What characterizes vector quantities?

Vector quantities are characterized by having both magnitude and direction. This dual nature is essential for fully describing the physical quantities represented by vectors. For example, when you describe a force acting on an object, you not only need to know how strong the force is (magnitude), but also the direction in which it acts. This is crucial in determining the resulting motion of an object when various forces are applied.

In contrast, quantities that only have magnitude, such as temperature or mass, are classified as scalar quantities. Vectors are fundamental in many areas of physics, including mechanics, where the direction of forces, velocity, and acceleration plays a vital role in analyzing motion.

Other options are not accurate representations of vector quantities: being negative does not apply to vectors inherently; they can represent negative magnitudes depending on the defined direction. While vectors can interact with scalar quantities, they are not dependent on them; they are independent quantities that can be analyzed based on their own properties.